Small Catechism 第11章

Attheheadofthemappearedaknightofhighdegree，inbluesteelarmourrichlyinlaidwithgold.Hisheadwasbare，forhecarriedhiscostlygoldenhelmethangingonhisleftarHelookedroyallyaroundhim;andhiscountenance，whichdarkbrownlocksshaded，waspleasanttobehold;andawell-trimmedmoustachefringedhismouth，fromwhich，ashesmiled，gleamedforthtworowsofpearl-whiteteeth.

AfeelingcameacrossSintramthathemustalreadyhaveseenthisknightsomewhere;andhestoodmotionlessforafewmoments.Butsuddenlyheraisedhishand，tomaketheagreedsignalofattack.

InvaindidthegoodRolf，whohadjustsucceededingettinguptohim，whisperinhisearthatthesecouldnotbethefoeswhomhehadtakenthemfor，butthattheywereunknown，andcertainlyhighandnoblestrangers.

"Letthembewhotheymay，"repliedthewildyouth，"theyhaveenticedmeheretowait，andtheyshallpaythepenaltyofthusfoolingme.Saynotanotherword，ifyouvalueyourlife."Andimmediatelyhegavethesignal，athickshowerofjavelinsfollowedfromallsides，andtheNorwegianwarriorsrushedforthwithflashingswords.Theyfoundtheirfoesasbrave，orsomewhatbraver，thantheycouldhavedesired.Morefellonthesideofthosewhomadethanofthosewhoreceivedtheassault;andthestrangersappearedtounderstandsurprisinglytheNorwegianmanneroffighting.Theknightinsteelarmourhadnotinhishasteputonhishelmet;butitseemedasifheinnowiseneededsuchprotection，forhisgoodswordaffordedhimsufficientdefenceevenagainstthespearsanddartswhichwereincessantlyhurledathim，aswithrapidskillhereceivedthemontheshiningblade，anddashedthemfaraway，shiveredintofragments.

Sintramcouldnotatthefirstonsetpenetratetowherethisshiningherowasstanding，asallhisfollowers，eageraftersuchanobleprey，throngedcloselyroundhim;butnowthewaywasclearedenoughforhimtospringtowardsthebravestranger，shoutingawar-cry，andbrandishinghisswordabovehishead.

"Gabrielle!"criedtheknight，ashedexterouslyparriedtheheavyblowwhichwasdescending，andwithonepowerfulsword-thrusthelaidtheyouthprostrateontheground;thenplacinghiskneeonSintramsbreast，hedrewforthaflashingdagger，andhelditbeforehiseyesashelayastonished.Allatoncethemen-at-armsstoodroundlikewalls.SintramfeltthatnohoperemainedforhiHedeterminedtodieasitbecameaboldwarrior;andwithoutgivingonesignofemotion，helookedonthefatalweaponwithasteadygaze.

Ashelaywithhiseyescastupwards，hefanciedthatthereappearedsuddenlyfromheavenawondrouslybeautifulfemaleforminabrightattireofblueandgold."OurancestorstoldtrulyoftheValkyrias，"murmuredhe."Strike，then，thouunknownconqueror."Butwiththistheknightdidnotcomply，neitherwasitaValkyriawhohadsosuddenlyappeared，butthebeautifulwifeofthestranger，who，havingadvancedtothehighedgeofthevessel，hadthusmettheupraisedlookofSintra

"Folko，"criedshe，inthesoftesttone，"thouknightwithoutreproach!Iknowthatthousparestthevanquished."Theknightsprangup，andwithcourtlygracestretchedouthishandtotheconqueredyouth，saying，"ThankthenobleladyofMontfauconforyourlifeandliberty.Butifyouaresototallydevoidofallgoodnessastowishtoresumethecombat，hereamI;letitbeyourstobegin."Sintramsank，deeplyashamed，onhisknees，andwept;forhehadoftenheardspeakofthehighrenownoftheFrenchknightFolkoofMontfaucon，whowasrelatedtohisfathershouse，andofthegraceandbeautyofhisgentleladyGabrielle.